Rising star Shaaban attends World Youth Assembly in Switzerland to back Worldwide road safety campaign
Dubai, UAE, 24th April, 2007: Arab racing driver Basil Shaaban, among delegates from more than 100 countries taking part in the World Youth Assembly for Road Safety in Geneva, Switzerland, is backing a new global campaign to prevent road traffic crashes.
Shaaban has pledged to help create a global network of young activists who will have a leading role in preventing road traffic accidents worldwide.
Shaaban, who made his debut in Formula 3 Euro series over the weekend in Germany traveled to Switzerland to take part in the Assembly. The event is spearheading the First United Nations Global Road Safety Week, which is being organised in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as UN Regional Commissions and their partners.
Shaaban is already committed to working with his new race sponsors, Shell, to have a big impact on road safety in the Middle East, which has the highest traffic fatality rate in the world amongst young men in the 15-29 age range.
Together with around 400 other delegates in Geneva he took part in discussions on the major problems faced by young people on the roads, and the potential solutions.
"After the Assembly each one of us will become an ambassador committed to road safety in their country, and I'm determined to play my part in the Middle East," said Shaaban, who was born in Beirut and raised in Abu Dhabi.
"Throughout the Arab world there are fundamental road safety issues which are being ignored by the youth. These are leading to unnecessarily high rates of injuries and fatalities. With my knowledge and experience of speed and safety, and with Shell's long-standing dedication to road safety education, we plan to help improve the driving attitude and on-road behavior of drivers in the Arab world."
The first outcome of the World Youth Assembly is the Youth Declaration for Road Safety, in which delegates commit to use roads safely and to take steps to prevent crashes and injuries. The declaration is designed to become an important tool to induce positive changes in every country.
Nelly El Ghossaini, 21 year old Lebanese Chairperson of the World Youth Assembly for Road Safety, said: "With highly motivated delegates from more than 100 countries, we are sure our Declaration will live for years to come.
"The World Youth Assembly is only the beginning. Our hopes and dreams have no limits. With the Youth Declaration for Road Safety in our hands we take the first step in a long journey towards safer transportation not only for us but for generations to come."
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© Press Release 2007
